Nagging by spouses is a frequent marital complaint. Psychotherapists such as Edward S. Dean have reported that individuals who nag are often “weak, insecure, and fearful … their nagging disguises a basic feeling of weakness and provides an illusion of power and superiority”.[3] Nagging is sometimes used by spouses of alcoholics as one of several “drinking control efforts”,[4] but it is often unproductive.[5] Psychologically, nagging can act to reinforce behavior.[5] A study by the University of Florida found the main factors that lead a person to nag are differences in “gender, social distance, and social status and power”.[6] Nagging has been found to attributed to be more of a feminine form of interpersonal communication rather than masculine. Nagging is often seen as at repetitious form of persuasion rather resorting to more aggressive persuasion tactics in order to gain compliance .Which was found in a study by Kari P. Soule (Ph. D., Communication Studies)–Northwestern University of 63 females and 40 males aged 19 and one of 202 people aged 24 to 84-49.[7] An equal number of men and women nag,however studies have shown that women are more likely to nag both men and women, while men are more likely to nag only men . Meaning women nag all people,which can be attributed to the reason why women are stereotyped as nagging people all the time.

Nagging can be found between both male and female spouses, though usually over different subjects, according to a Good Housekeeping article which described husbands’ nagging as usually involving finding “fault with their dinner, with the household bills [and] with the children”, along with “carry[ing] home the worries of business.”[8] It has been found that behavioural noncompliance is more common among spouses. Behavioural noncompliance referrers to when person whom is being nagged remains silent while being nagged or who agrees to complete the request, but later does not follow through. This is strategy in order to end the confrontation or interaction quickly without conflict, which is why it is common among spouses or partners. As the nagging interaction that starts out in a calm and polite manner which continues and persuader becomes more repetitive, the interaction is more likely to become aggressive in nature. The persuasive target could also respond in a more direct fashion through the tactic of verbal noncompliance. Verbal noncompliance refers to when the persuasive target telling a persuader through word that they will not comply. An example of verbal noncompliance could be a simple no, or I am too busy right now more even more elaborate response. This tactic does end the nagging interaction more rapidly; however it can cause a more aggressive response from the persuader who may alter persistent persuasion to threats or another aggressive form of persuasion.